Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of operating a host bus adapter, comprising: retrieving a firmware generation indicator; receiving an input/output (I/O) command; based on said firmware generation indicator, selecting a one of a primary firmware and a secondary firmware to process said I/O command, the primary firmware and the secondary firmware simultaneously included on, and executable by the host bus adapter, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware; and, processing said I/O command using said selected one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware.
A method for a host bus adapter (HBA) to handle I/O commands by using two firmware versions simultaneously. The HBA retrieves an indicator specifying which firmware generation to use. Based on this indicator, it selects either the primary firmware (for current hardware) or the secondary firmware (emulating next-generation hardware). Both firmware versions reside on and are executable by the current-generation HBA. The selected firmware then processes the received I/O command. This allows a current-generation HBA to behave like a future generation HBA.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a query for a plug-and-play (PNP) identification; in response to said query for said PNP identification, providing a first PNP identification associated with said next generation of hardware.
The method described above where the host bus adapter receives a request for a plug-and-play (PNP) identification. In response to this request, the HBA provides a PNP identification associated with the *next* generation of hardware (emulated by the secondary firmware). The method includes retrieving a firmware generation indicator; receiving an input/output (I/O) command; based on said firmware generation indicator, selecting a one of a primary firmware and a secondary firmware to process said I/O command, the primary firmware and the secondary firmware simultaneously included on, and executable by the host bus adapter, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware; and, processing said I/O command using said selected one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said primary firmware and said secondary firmware are stored on separate partitions of an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).
The method described where the primary firmware (for current hardware) and the secondary firmware (emulating next-generation hardware) are stored in separate partitions on an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) chip. The method includes retrieving a firmware generation indicator; receiving an input/output (I/O) command; based on said firmware generation indicator, selecting a one of a primary firmware and a secondary firmware to process said I/O command, the primary firmware and the secondary firmware simultaneously included on, and executable by the host bus adapter, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware; and, processing said I/O command using said selected one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein, for certification of an operating system driver with said next generation of hardware, said firmware generation indicator is set to select the secondary firmware.
The method described where, for the purpose of certifying an operating system driver with the *next* generation of hardware, the firmware generation indicator is specifically set to select the secondary firmware (which emulates the next-generation hardware). The method includes retrieving a firmware generation indicator; receiving an input/output (I/O) command; based on said firmware generation indicator, selecting a one of a primary firmware and a secondary firmware to process said I/O command, the primary firmware and the secondary firmware simultaneously included on, and executable by the host bus adapter, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware; and, processing said I/O command using said selected one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said primary firmware and said secondary firmware process the same I/O command set.
The method described where both the primary firmware (for current hardware) and the secondary firmware (emulating next-generation hardware) are designed to process the same set of I/O commands. The method includes retrieving a firmware generation indicator; receiving an input/output (I/O) command; based on said firmware generation indicator, selecting a one of a primary firmware and a secondary firmware to process said I/O command, the primary firmware and the secondary firmware simultaneously included on, and executable by the host bus adapter, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware; and, processing said I/O command using said selected one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware.
6. A host bus adapter, comprising: a host bus link to receive an input/output (I/O) command from an operating system I/O driver; firmware stored on said host bus adapter, said firmware comprising primary firmware and secondary firmware to process said I/O command; and, a processor to respond to the I/O command under the control of one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware, said processor to select one of said primary firmware and secondary firmware to process said I/O command based on a firmware generation indicator, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware.
A host bus adapter (HBA) that contains a host bus link to receive I/O commands from an operating system driver. The HBA stores two firmware versions: primary (for current hardware) and secondary (emulating next-generation hardware). A processor within the HBA responds to I/O commands using either the primary or secondary firmware, selecting one based on a firmware generation indicator. The secondary firmware emulates the functionality of a future-generation HBA on current-generation hardware.
7. The host bus adapter of claim 6 , wherein said host bus link is to receive a query for a plug-and-play (PNP) identification, and in response to said query for said PNP identification, said host bus link is to communicate a first PNP identification associated with said next generation of hardware.
The host bus adapter described above where the host bus link receives a query for a plug-and-play (PNP) identification. In response, the host bus link communicates a PNP identification that corresponds to the *next* generation of hardware (emulated by the secondary firmware). The host bus adapter contains a host bus link to receive an input/output (I/O) command from an operating system I/O driver; firmware stored on said host bus adapter, said firmware comprising primary firmware and secondary firmware to process said I/O command; and, a processor to respond to the I/O command under the control of one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware, said processor to select one of said primary firmware and secondary firmware to process said I/O command based on a firmware generation indicator, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware.
8. The host bus adapter of claim 6 , wherein said primary firmware and said secondary firmware are stored on separate partitions of an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).
The host bus adapter described above where the primary firmware (for current hardware) and the secondary firmware (emulating next-generation hardware) are stored in separate partitions of an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The host bus adapter contains a host bus link to receive an input/output (I/O) command from an operating system I/O driver; firmware stored on said host bus adapter, said firmware comprising primary firmware and secondary firmware to process said I/O command; and, a processor to respond to the I/O command under the control of one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware, said processor to select one of said primary firmware and secondary firmware to process said I/O command based on a firmware generation indicator, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware.
9. The host bus adapter of claim 6 , wherein, for certification of an operating system driver with said next generation of hardware, said firmware generation indicator is set to select the secondary firmware.
The host bus adapter described above where, for the purpose of certifying an operating system driver with the *next* generation of hardware, the firmware generation indicator is set to select the secondary firmware (which emulates the next-generation hardware). The host bus adapter contains a host bus link to receive an input/output (I/O) command from an operating system I/O driver; firmware stored on said host bus adapter, said firmware comprising primary firmware and secondary firmware to process said I/O command; and, a processor to respond to the I/O command under the control of one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware, said processor to select one of said primary firmware and secondary firmware to process said I/O command based on a firmware generation indicator, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware.
10. The host bus adapter of claim 6 , wherein said primary firmware and said secondary firmware control said processor to respond to the same I/O command set.
The host bus adapter described above where the primary firmware (for current hardware) and the secondary firmware (emulating next-generation hardware) control the processor to respond to the same set of I/O commands. The host bus adapter contains a host bus link to receive an input/output (I/O) command from an operating system I/O driver; firmware stored on said host bus adapter, said firmware comprising primary firmware and secondary firmware to process said I/O command; and, a processor to respond to the I/O command under the control of one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware, said processor to select one of said primary firmware and secondary firmware to process said I/O command based on a firmware generation indicator, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware.
11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for operating a host bus adapter that, when executed by a computer, at least instruct the computer to: retrieve a firmware generation indicator; receive an input/output (I/O) command; based on said firmware generation indicator, select a one of a primary firmware and a secondary firmware to process said I/O command; and, process said I/O command using said selected one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., a flash drive) containing instructions for a host bus adapter (HBA). These instructions, when executed, cause the HBA to: retrieve a firmware generation indicator; receive an I/O command; select either primary firmware (for current hardware) or secondary firmware (emulating next-generation hardware) based on the indicator; and process the I/O command using the selected firmware. The secondary firmware emulates the future HBA generation on the current generation hardware.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the computer is further instructed to: receive a query for a plug-and-play (PNP) identification; in response to said query for said PNP identification, provide a first PNP identification associated with said next generation of hardware.
The computer readable medium described above further instructs the computer to receive a query for a plug-and-play (PNP) identification, and in response, to provide a PNP identification associated with the *next* generation of hardware. The medium contains instructions for operating a host bus adapter that cause the HBA to retrieve a firmware generation indicator; receive an input/output (I/O) command; based on said firmware generation indicator, select a one of a primary firmware and a secondary firmware to process said I/O command; and, process said I/O command using said selected one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein said primary firmware and said secondary firmware are stored on separate partitions of an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).
The computer readable medium described above where the primary firmware (for current hardware) and the secondary firmware (emulating next-generation hardware) are stored on separate partitions of an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The medium contains instructions for operating a host bus adapter that cause the HBA to retrieve a firmware generation indicator; receive an input/output (I/O) command; based on said firmware generation indicator, select a one of a primary firmware and a secondary firmware to process said I/O command; and, process said I/O command using said selected one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein, for certification of an operating system driver with said next generation of hardware, said firmware generation indicator is set to select the secondary firmware.
The computer readable medium described above where, for the certification of an operating system driver with the *next* generation of hardware, the firmware generation indicator is set to select the secondary firmware (which emulates the next-generation hardware). The medium contains instructions for operating a host bus adapter that cause the HBA to retrieve a firmware generation indicator; receive an input/output (I/O) command; based on said firmware generation indicator, select a one of a primary firmware and a secondary firmware to process said I/O command; and, process said I/O command using said selected one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein said primary firmware and said secondary firmware process the same I/O command set.
The computer readable medium described above where the primary firmware (for current hardware) and the secondary firmware (emulating next-generation hardware) process the same set of I/O commands. The medium contains instructions for operating a host bus adapter that cause the HBA to retrieve a firmware generation indicator; receive an input/output (I/O) command; based on said firmware generation indicator, select a one of a primary firmware and a secondary firmware to process said I/O command; and, process said I/O command using said selected one of said primary firmware and said secondary firmware, said host bus adapter being a current generation of hardware and said secondary firmware emulating a next generation of hardware using said current generation of hardware.
Unknown
September 30, 2014
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